06ABUDHABI3882

VZCZCXYZOOOO
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAD #3882 2780554
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 050554Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7231
INFO RUEHDO /AMEMBASSY DOHA 1322
RUE HKU / AMEMBAS S Y KUWAIT 1163
RUEHMK/ AMEMBASSY MANAMA 1255
RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT 0572
RUEKJCS/ SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS /JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC

CONFIDENTIAL ABU DHABI 003882

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E . O . 12958: DECL : 10/04/2011

TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL BA KU MU OA AE

SUBJECT: PSI: UAE PARTICIPATION IN EXERCISE LEADING EDGE

REF: A. STATE 158756

IB. ABU DHABI 3633
1IC. ABU DHABI 3619

Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B & D).

1[1 . (C) On September 3, econchief and poleconoff met with

Yacoub Al-Hosani, Director of International Organizations at
the MFA to encourage the UAE to participate actively in the
late October Leading Edge exercise. Econchief explained that
the UAE military had already received an invitation to
participate in the exercise from Central Command Commander
General Abizaid. Al-Hosani said that he thought the UAE
should participate in the exercise and added that he would
encourage the military to send appropriate representatives.

J.2 . (C) Ambassador had previously urged the UAE to participate
in Leading Edge with Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh
Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan most recently on September 13,
when he said that the UAE would not host the land-based
portion of the exercise. DATT also has encouraged military
leadership to participate in Exercise Leading Edge. It is
hoped that the UAE Armed Forces will designate a UAE Navy and
Coast Guard representative to observe.

QUINN